Insert for waterless portable precision heating device

ABSTRACT

An insert for a waterless portable heating device can include multiple containers or shelves arranged in layers for insertion into the device. For example, the insert can have multiple compartments to heat multiple separate ingredients at the same time, e.g., without the ingredients touching each other.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/833,415, filed on Mar. 27, 2020, which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/756,534, filed on Feb. 28, 2018, which is a U.S. national stageapplication under 35 USC § 371 of International Application No.PCT/US2016/049974, filed on Sep. 1, 2016, which claims benefit of andpriority to U.S. provisional applications 62/213,968, filed on Sep. 3,2015, the entire contents of all applications which are incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description is related to precision cooking of food items andheating of crafting ingredients.

BACKGROUND

It can be difficult to heat foods and other ingredients evenly. Mostkitchen appliances are heavy and bulky or use heating elements thatdon't allow for even heating, precise temperature control andportability. Devices that use water or steam as a heating source cannotexceed temperatures greater than 100° C. (and even lower than that inhigher altitudes) without being pressurized.

SUMMARY

An insert for a waterless portable heating device can include multiplecontainers or shelves arranged in layers for insertion into the device.The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and descriptions below. Other features,objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view of the lightweight waterless portable heatinglightweight waterless portable heating device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective partially disassembled view showing portions ofthe inside of the lightweight waterless portable heating device with theinner canister raised.

FIG. 3 is a perspective partially disassembled view showing portions ofthe inside of the lightweight waterless portable heating device with theheating cylinder raised.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of an embodiment of the lightweight waterlessportable heating device.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlargements of the area indicated in FIG. 4,showing two embodiments of the placement of the heater in thelightweight waterless portable heating device.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of a second embodiment of the lightweightwaterless portable heating device.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the heating algorithm of the device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the heating algorithm of the device of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an example computer block diagram for controlling thelightweight waterless portable heating device.

FIG. 9 is a cross section of an embodiment of the waterlessdecarboxylation device having an insert with multiple compartments.

FIG. 10 is an example of an insert with multiple compartments with atether.

FIG. 11 is an example of an insert with multiple compartments containedwithin a sleeve.

FIG. 12 is an example of an insert with multiple compartments containedwithin a perforated sleeve.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The lightweight waterless portable precision heating device describedherein uses even heating to warm and cook a variety of food-related,health-related, and crafting-related ingredients by using a thermalheating blanket and precision sensor to create an optimal heatingenvironment. The waterless portable precision heating device does notrely on water or steam to heat the ingredients. Boiling water and steamreach a maximum temperature of 100° C. without pressure and aretherefore too low for most heating applications, in addition to beingimpractical in many circumstances. Further, water boils at differenttemperatures depending on altitude, which leads to imprecision in theheating process and varying outcomes using that method. The waterlessportable precision heating device also evenly distributes heat, avoidinghot spots and burned or under heated ingredients. Traditional cookingappliances use heating elements placed in configurations that do notallow for precise, even heat.

In order to solve these problems, iterations of the present device useinclude an ingredient container (sometimes called a product container)to contain a food-related, a health-related, or a crafting-relatedingredient, the ingredient container being generally cylindrical with aflat bottom surface; a heating element configured to surround andcontact the ingredient container; an insulation layer configured tosurround and contact the heating element; an outer shell surrounding theinsulation layer; a lid that encloses the product container and fluidlyseals it from the environment; at least one sensor configured to detectthe temperature of the heating sheet; and a circuit board with amicroprocessor or microcontroller that controls the heating of theheating sheet in response to signals received from the at least onesensor indicating whether the product container has reached a thresholdtemperature. The device can maintain a temperature of over 100° C.without use of liquid or pressure. The resulting device allows for theeven and precise heating of food-related, health-related, andcrafting-related ingredients without the use of water as a conduit andthe attendant temperature restrictions, or the inconsistency and weightof traditional kitchen appliances.

FIG. 1 shows an exterior view of the lightweight waterless portableheating device 10. The lightweight waterless portable heating device 10includes a canister body 20 which fits with a lid 30. The canister body20 is generally cylindrical, and includes a canister shell 22 which ishard and protects the inner contents of the canister body 20. Thecanister body 20 is joined with a canister base 40. During use, thecanister base 40 sits on a flat surface such as a table or counter. Thecanister base 40 shown in FIG. 1 is tapered, however the canister basecan be cylindrical as well. A user display interface 50 is alsopositioned on an exterior surface of the canister base 40. The userdisplay interface 50 includes a button 52 that the user can press tobegin the heating and cooling procedure of the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10. The user display interface also includes alight 60 that indicates the status of the lightweight waterless portableheating device 10 to the user. The light 60 can be turned on or off, andwhen on can show one or more colors, for example, red and green. Thelight 60 and the button 52 are shown as coincident or overlapping inFIG. 1, however the light 60 and button 52 may be combined into a singleitem, or alternatively may be located side by side.

FIG. 2 shows the inside of canister body 20 with the canister shell 22removed. Canister body 20 is shown to include a series of cylinders thatfit one inside the other, and which all fit within the canister shell22. The innermost cylinder is a receptacle or product container 100 thatholds the food-related, health-related, or craft-related ingredient tobe heated. This product container 100 can slide up and down, that is,vertically, and in FIG. 2 is shown in a raised position relative to theother components. The product container 100 is generally cylindricalwith a smooth outer surface 102, and inner surface 104 which contactsthe food-related, health-related, or craft-related ingredient. As bestseen in FIG. 4, the product container 100 has a bottom portion that isflat and supports the food-related, health-related, or craft-relatedingredient. The product container 100 also has a circumferential lip 108at its upper surface so that the user can easily grasp the container andmove it up and down. The product container 100 is slidable in andup/down direct for ease of use, allowing the user to raise the containeror remove it from the rest of the canister body 20 in order to easilyplace the food-related, health-related, or craft-related ingredientinside of the product container 100. Once the food-related,health-related, or craft-related ingredient is placed inside the userthen pushes the product container 100 back down inside the remainder ofthe canister body 20 so that it is nestled inside the other cylinders.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4B, the next layer circumferentially external tothe product container 100 is the heating layer 120. Like the productcontainer 100, the heating layer 120 is generally cylindrical with anouter surface 122 and an inner surface 124, and a flat bottom portionthat connects the cylindrical walls. Once the product container 100 isin place, the product container 100 is surrounded by the heating layer120.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A, the heating layer 120 has a flexible heatingsheet 130 applied on the outer surface 122 of the heating layer 120.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the heating sheet 130 can be locatedon the inner surface 124 of the heating layer 120. The heating sheet 130is also known as a thermal blanket, and comprises a thin, flexiblesilicone wafer (e.g., less than 2 inches thick and 3 lbs weight) thatcan be wrapped around the heating layer 120. Such thermal blankets areknown in the art, for example those produced by Birk Manufacturing. Theheating sheet 130 is adhesive and can be adhered to the inner surface124 or outer surface 122 of the heating layer 120. The heating sheet 130can also be applied to the bottom portion of the heating layer 120.

When the heating sheet 130 is activated, the heat is transferred to theheating layer 120 and via conduction to the product container 100 andthen via conduction and radiation to the food-related, health-related,or craft-related ingredient inside the product container 100.

Outside the heating layer 120 is a foam layer 140 to thermally isolatethe product inside the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10from the environment and its ambient heating conditions and to evenlydistribute the heat. The foam layer 140 surrounds and contacts theheating layer 120 on the inner surface of the foam layer 140 (outersurface 122 of the heating layer 120) and the canister shell 22 on theouter surface of the foam layer 140 (inner surface of the canister shell22), and maximizes the heat transfer from the heating element to thecontents contained within the product container 100. As shown in FIG. 4,the foam protection can extend onto the bottom of the canister shell 22with bottom protection foam layer 142. Foam may also extend around thesurface of canister base 40. Foam layer 140 may can be composed of foam,or any other thermally isolating material suitable from preventing orreducing thermal transmission from the inside of the lightweightwaterless portable heating device 10 to the environment.

Still referring to FIG. 4, on top of all the cylinders is a lid 30. Thelid 30 can also have a foam layer 144 within the lid's outer shell toensure even heating and to prevent heat loss from the product container100 to the environment. The lid 30 can have a valve or steam hole 34 toallow heated air to escape the inside of the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10. The lid 30 is shown in snap-fittableengagement with the canister body 20 around the circumferential rim ofcanister body 20. Although the mechanism of releasably engaging lid 30and canister body 20 is shown, alternate engagement mechanisms may beemployed, such as regularly spaced projections radiating inwardly fromthe inner surface of lid 30 to mate with corresponding detents disposedin the outer upper surface of canister body 20, or a threaded connectionbetween an inner surface of the lid 30 and an upper portion of thecanister body 20. Other engagement mechanisms could be used.

The lid 30 is made to be airtight to prevent oxygen from entering theproduct container 100 during the heating process. For example, the lid30 can be preferentially constructed out of silicone. Referring to FIGS.4 and 5, the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10 caninclude an additional sealing element to reduce the amount of oxygenthat leaks from the environment to the inside of the lightweightwaterless portable heating device 10 by fluidly disconnecting the insideof the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10 from theenvironment. For example, seal 150 can be located between the lid 30 andthe canister body 20. The seal 150 can be attached to an inner surfaceof the lid 30, the upper surface of the foam layer 140, or the top ofthe product container 100. The seal 150 can be O-ring.

The product container 100 and heating layer 120 can be constructed of avariety of suitable materials that efficiently conduct heat, such asvarious metals. The canister body 20 and lid 30 can be constructed of avariety of materials which are suitable, including, but not limited to,plastic, glass, silicone, food-grade butyl rubber, latex, aliphaticpolyesters, natural rubber, metal, metal foils, polytetrafluoroethylene,biopolymers such as liquid wood, modified casein, polyhydroxyalkanoatepolyesters, including polyhydroxybutrate, polyhydroxyvalerate,polylactic acid, starch based polyesters, keratin processed with methylacrylate, hemp polymers, hemp plastic, hemp composite polymers, andcombinations thereof. The canister body 20 is preferably constructed ofa cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. 1. The various cylindrical layerscan be modified to taper inwardly as wall portions extend toward thecanister base 40 so that an amount of the ingredients are to be evenlyheated can aggregate together in the product container 100.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the canister base 40 contains an emptyspace that houses a circuit board 160 with a microprocessor ormicrocontroller that controls the heating of the heating sheet 130. Thecanister base 40 that contains the circuit board 160 is located belowand attached to the canister shell 22 with a screw or other fasteningmechanism.

The circuit board 160 also monitors one or more sensors in thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10. For example, as shownin FIG. 4, there is at least one first sensor 170 located on the heatinglayer 120. The first sensor 170, for example a thermocouple, detects thetemperature of the heating layer 120 and sends the signal to the circuitboard 160. The first sensor 170 is preferably in contact with theheating sheet 130. Since the heating layer 120 is the hottest part ofthe lightweight waterless portable heating device 10, the first sensor170 is reading the maximum temperature within the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10, and ensures that the temperature does notincrease beyond a threshold temperature that may damage the contentscontained within the product container, e.g., beyond 105 to 115 C.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which there are at least two positions forsensors in the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10. Inaddition to the at least one sensor 170 on the heating layer 120 thereis a second sensor 172 within the lightweight waterless portable heatingdevice 10 located at a distance from the at least one sensor 170. Thissecond sensor 172 can be located within the internal space in canisterbase 40. Alternatively, the second sensor 172 can be embedded within theheating layer 120, the foam layer 140, or on the bottom of the heatinglayer 120 either contacting the product container 100, or open to thespace within the canister base 40. The second sensor 172 may includesensors in one or more of these locations.

With the at least two sensors 170, 172 detecting the temperature atdifferent locations, the second sensor 172 ensures that the temperatureeverywhere inside the canister shell 22 or the lightweight waterlessportable heating device reaches the desired temperature (e.g., less than100° C., 100° C., greater than 100° C., 105° C., or any desiredtemperature depending on the ingredient to be heated). The first sensor170 on the heating sheet 130 then works as a failsafe, measuring thehottest portion of the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10so that the circuit board 160 ensures that the temperature is not abovea threshold critical temperature (e.g., 105-115° C., or any temperaturedepending on the contents/ingredients that are to be heated).

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart describing the heating algorithm of thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 with at least one firstsensor 170 affixed to the heating sheet 130. The user first prepares thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 for use by placing thefood-related, health-related, or craft-related ingredient inside theproduct container 100, and lowering the product container 100 into itsactive position (e.g., the position shown in FIG. 4) and then attachingthe lid 30 to the canister body 20.

With the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10 connected to apower source (e.g., plugged in) the lightweight waterless portableheating device 10 is now ready to begin its heating cycle. At the start200 of the cycle, the light 60 on the user display interface 50 showsgreen, indicating that power is flowing to the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10 but that the heat cycle has not begun and isready for use. The user presses the button 52 on the user displayinterface 50. The lightweight waterless portable heating device 10detects that the button 52 was pressed (step 204), and turn the light 60from green to red, indicating to the user that the cycle has begun (step208). At step 212, power begins flowing to the heater in heating sheet130.

At step 216, the first sensor 170 detects the temperature. If the targettemperature (e.g., the desired temperature or threshold maximumtemperature) is not reached, then power continues to flow to the heatingsheet 130, step 212. If the target temperature has been reached, thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 then maintains thetemperature by reducing or stopping power to the heating sheet 130 (step220). When the first sensor 170 registers the target temperature, thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 notes the time, andthen continually checks if the desired heating time has elapsed (step224). If not, the device returns to step 220 of maintaining thetemperature until the elapsed time at the desired heat is reached (e.g.,105° C. for 60 minutes). When the elapsed time is detected, power is cutfrom the heater (step 228), and the first sensor 170 continues tomonitor the internal temperature. If the temperature is above a safelevel (step 232), the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10continues to block incoming power until the system has cooled to thedesired temperature, e.g., a safe temperature such as room temperatureor near room temperature. At step 236 the light 60 which is showing redreturns to green, indicating to the user that the cycle is complete.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart describing the heating algorithm of thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 with at least one firstsensor 170 affixed to the heating sheet 130 and at least one secondsensor 172 affixed elsewhere inside the canister shell 22 or inside thecanister base 40. As for the previous embodiment, the user firstprepares the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10 for use byplacing the food-related, health-related, or craft-related ingredientinside the product container 100, and lowering the product container 100into its active position (e.g., the position shown in FIG. 5) and thenattaching the lid 30 to the canister body 20.

With the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10 connected to apower source (e.g., plugged in) the lightweight waterless portableheating device 10 is now ready to begin its heating cycle. At the start300 of the cycle, the light 60 on the user display interface 50 showsgreen, indicating that power is flowing to the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10 but that the heat cycle has not begun and isready for use. The user presses the button 52 on the user displayinterface 50. The lightweight waterless portable heating device 10detects that the button 52 was pressed (step 304), and turn the light 60from green to red, indicating to the user that the cycle has begun (step308). At step 312, power begins flowing to the heater in heating sheet130.

At step 316, the first sensor 170 detects the temperature. If the targettemperature (e.g., the desired temperature or threshold maximumtemperature) is not reached, then power continues to flow to the heatingsheet 130, step 312. If the target temperature has been reached, thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 then maintains thetemperature by reducing (or stopping) power to the heating sheet 130(step 320).

At step 324, the second sensor 172 detects the temperature at its secondlocation. If the target temperature (e.g., the desired temperature orthreshold maximum temperature) is not reached at the second location,then power continues to flow to the heating sheet 130 to maintain thetemperature sensed by first sensor 170, step 320. The lightweightwaterless portable heating device 10 continues at this power level,while heat continues to flow and heat up the location of second sensor172, indicating that the whole interior of the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10 has reached the target temperature.

When the second sensor 172 registers the target temperature, thelightweight waterless portable heating device 10 notes the time, andthen continually checks if the desired heating time has elapsed (step328). If not, the device returns to step 320 of maintaining thetemperature until the elapsed time at the desired heat is reached (e.g.,105° C. for 60 minutes). When the elapsed time is detected, power is cutfrom the heater (step 332), and the first sensor 170 and/or the secondsensor 172 continues to monitor the internal temperature. If thetemperature is above a safe level (step 336), the lightweight waterlessportable heating device 10 continues to block incoming power until thesystem has cooled to the desired temperature, e.g., a safe temperaturesuch as room temperature or near room temperature. At step 340 the light60 which is showing red returns to green, indicating to the user thatthe cycle is complete.

Although a light is described in the examples described above, any othersuitable user interface element could be used to communicate the sameinformation to the user. As another example, the device 10 could have acommunication interface for communicating with an external device (e.g.,a Bluetooth interface), and could send a notification to the externaldevice (e.g., a smartphone, smartwatch, or other suitable device) whichcould then display information related to the notification on its userinterface.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example computer system 400. Forexample, referring to FIG. 4 or 5, circuit board 160 could be a part ofan example of the system 400 described here. The system 400 includes aprocessor 410, a memory 420, a storage device 430, and one or moreinput/output interface devices 440. Each of the components 410, 420,430, and 440 can be interconnected, for example, using a system bus 450.

The processor 410 is capable of processing instructions for executionwithin the system 400. The term “execution” as used here refers to atechnique in which program code causes a processor to carry out one ormore processor instructions. The processor 410 is capable of processinginstructions stored in the memory 420 or on the storage device 430. Theprocessor 410 may execute operations such as lightweight waterlessportable heating of a food-related, health-related, or craft-relatedingredient.

The memory 420 stores information within the system 400. In someimplementations, the memory 420 is a computer-readable medium. In someimplementations, the memory 420 is a volatile memory unit. In someimplementations, the memory 420 is a non-volatile memory unit.

The storage device 430 is capable of providing mass storage for thesystem 400. In some implementations, the storage device 430 is anon-transitory computer-readable medium. In various differentimplementations, the storage device 430 can include, for example, a harddisk device, an optical disk device, a solid-state drive, a flash drive,magnetic tape, or some other large capacity storage device. In someimplementations, the storage device 430 may be a cloud storage device,e.g., a logical storage device including one or more physical storagedevices distributed on a network and accessed using a network. In someexamples, the storage device may store long-term data, such as thenumber of times the lightweight waterless portable heating device 10 hascompleted a cycle, the maximum and/or minimum temperatures recordedduring each cycle, and/or the temperature profiles of each cycle. Theinput/output interface devices 440 provide input/output operations forthe system 400. In some implementations, the input/output interfacedevices 440 can include one or more of a network interface devices,e.g., an Ethernet interface, a serial communication device, e.g., anRS-232 interface, and/or a wireless interface device, e.g., an 802.11interface, a 3G wireless modem, a 4G wireless modem, etc. A networkinterface device allows the system 400 to communicate, for example,transmit and receive such data. In some implementations, theinput/output device can include driver devices configured to receiveinput data and send output data to other input/output devices, e.g.,keyboard, printer and display devices 460. In some implementations,mobile computing devices, mobile communication devices, and otherdevices can be used.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the described algorithms can be realized byinstructions that upon execution cause one or more processing devices tocarry out the processes and functions described above, for example,lightweight waterless portable heating of a food-related,health-related, or craft-related ingredient. Such instructions caninclude, for example, interpreted instructions such as scriptinstructions, or executable code, or other instructions stored in acomputer readable medium.

A server or database system can be distributively implemented over anetwork, such as a server farm, or a set of widely distributed serversor can be implemented in a single virtual device that includes multipledistributed devices that operate in coordination with one another. Forexample, one of the devices can control the other devices, or thedevices may operate under a set of coordinated rules or protocols, orthe devices may be coordinated in another fashion. The coordinatedoperation of the multiple distributed devices presents the appearance ofoperating as a single device.

In some examples, the system 400 is contained within a single integratedcircuit package. A system 400 of this kind, in which both a processor410 and one or more other components are contained within a singleintegrated circuit package and/or fabricated as a single integratedcircuit, is sometimes called a microcontroller. In some implementations,the integrated circuit package includes pins that correspond toinput/output ports, e.g., that can be used to communicate signals to andfrom one or more of the input/output interface devices 440.

Although an example processing system has been described in FIG. 7,implementations of the subject matter and the functional operationsdescribed above can be implemented in other types of digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including thestructures disclosed in this specification and their structuralequivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementationsof the subject matter described in this specification, such as storing,maintaining, and displaying artifacts can be implemented as one or morecomputer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer programinstructions encoded on a tangible program carrier, for example acomputer-readable medium, for execution by, or to control the operationof, a processing system. The computer readable medium can be a machinereadable storage device, a machine readable storage substrate, a memorydevice, or a combination of one or more of them.

The term “system” may encompass all apparatus, devices, and machines forprocessing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, acomputer, or multiple processors or computers. A processing system caninclude, in addition to hardware, code that creates an executionenvironment for the computer program in question, e.g., code thatconstitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database managementsystem, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, executable logic, or code) can be written in anyform of programming language, including compiled or interpretedlanguages, or declarative or procedural languages, and it can bedeployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module,component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to afile in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in amarkup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program inquestion, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store oneor more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer programcan be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computersthat are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

Computer readable media suitable for storing computer programinstructions and data include all forms of non-volatile or volatilememory, media and memory devices, including by way of examplesemiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memorydevices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks ormagnetic tapes; magneto optical disks; and CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and Blu-Raydisks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, orincorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry. Sometimes a server isa general purpose computer, and sometimes it is a custom-tailoredspecial purpose electronic device, and sometimes it is a combination ofthese things. Implementations can include a back end component, e.g., adata server, or a middleware component, e.g., an application server, ora front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical userinterface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with animplementation of the subject matter described is this specification, orany combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front endcomponents. The components of the system can be interconnected by anyform or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communicationnetwork. Examples of communication networks include a local area network(“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 9, an insert 500 having multiple compartments 510 canbe used with the product container 100. In some instances, the insert500 includes multiple compartments 540, 550, 560. Multiple compartmentscan be used to heat separate ingredients at the same time without theingredients touching each other. Further, in some examples, eachcompartment can be fully surrounded by the heating element.

The multiple compartments can be layered on top of one another. Thelayered compartments may be connected in a way that allows them to beremoved without having to reach deep into the device. In some instances,the compartments sit on top of each other and are bound by a tether 520(as shown in FIG. 10). In some instances, at least some of thecompartments are partially or completely surrounded by (e.g., contained)within a sleeve 530 (as shown in FIG. 11). The tether 520 shown in FIG.10 is located at the center position, but the tether could also belocated elsewhere and/or take other forms. In other instances, thesleeve 530 may be swapped out for an empty internal container, forinstance the product container 100. An upper part of the tether 570and/or a top portion 580 (e.g., one or more handles) of the sleeve canbe actuated (e.g., pulled) to remove the insert 500 from the device.

In some implementations, the compartments 540, 550, 560 are permanentlyaffixed (e.g., fused, welded, or otherwise combined using any techniquethat resists detachment in use) to one another. In some implementations,the compartments 540, 550, 560 are separable and reconnectable to oneanother and may have various avenues for inserting and removingingredients including stacking and sliding mechanisms, lids, doors, andother accessories. For instance, the compartments may be individualizeddrawers (e.g., each drawer is individually manipulated and/or opens andcloses independent of the others). In other instances, the compartmentsare magnetically attached to one another, or attach to one anotherthrough a snap mechanism, or through any other suitable means, therebyallowing the removal of all compartments when one is pulled from thedevice. The compartments may sit horizontally or at an angle relative toone another.

In some examples, the compartments are solid walled containers, wiredcontainers, solid walled shelves, and/or wired shelves. For example, theshelves are open on the top. The insert 500 may include different typesof compartments. For instance, an insert may include both solid walledcontainers and wired shelving.

There can be as few as two and as many as ten or more compartments. Thecompartments can be further configured to hold a variety of smalleritems or ingredients. For instance, a single compartment may be includecompartmentalized sections each capable of holding respective differentingredients.

FIG. 12 shows another version of the sleeve 530 a that has perforations,e.g., to enable additional circulation of air through the sleeve 530 a.In some examples, the additional circulation of air enabled by theperforation of the sleeve 530 a causes contents of the insert 500 toreach a target temperature more quickly and/or maintain a targettemperature with fewer or less pronounced fluctuations in temperature.This version of the sleeve 530 a also has a top portion 580 a (e.g., oneor more handles) that can be actuated (e.g., pulled) to remove theinsert 500 from the device.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Although the figures and description above refer to a cylindrical ornear-cylindrical lightweight waterless portable heating device 10, thelightweight waterless portable heating device can be other shapes. Forexample, the lightweight waterless portable heating device can bespherical.

Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waterless portable precision heating device foreven heating, comprising: an ingredient container to contain one or morefood-related, a health-related, or crafting-related ingredients; aninsert sized to fit in the heating device and having multiplecompartments, each compartment configured for holding one or more of theingredients; a thin heating element configured to surround and contactthe ingredient container; an insulation layer configured to surround andcontact the heating element; an outer shell surrounding the insulationlayer; a lid that encloses the ingredient container and fluidly seals itfrom the environment; at least one sensor configured to detect thetemperature of the device; and a circuit board with a controller thatcontrols the heating of the heating element in response to signalsreceived from the at least one sensor indicating whether the ingredientcontainer has reached a threshold temperature.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the insert comprises at least two compartments.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the multiple compartments are permanently connected toone another or are separable from one another.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein the multiple compartments are permanently connected to oneanother and each compartment of the multiple compartments is anindividualized drawer.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the multiplecompartments are magnetically attached to one another.
 6. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the multiple compartments attach to one another througha snap mechanism.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein each compartment ofthe multiple compartments sits horizontally or at an angle relative toanother compartment of the multiple compartments.
 8. The device of claim1, wherein the multiple compartments are solid walled containers, wiredcontainers, solid walled shelves, wired shelves, or a combinationthereof.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein a single compartment of themultiple compartments is further configured to have compartmentalizedsections.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to control power to the heating element to maintain theingredient container temperature at temperature greater than 100° C. 11.The device of claim 1, wherein the insert is sized to fit in theingredient container.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the ingredientcontainer comprises the insert.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein theinsert comprises a handle or a tether for removing the insert.
 14. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a sleeve surrounding oneor more of the compartments.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein thesleeve comprises perforations.